CERF+news

Program News

New Emerging Artist Guidelines at CERF+
CERF+ now provides assistance to emerging professional craft artists who have suffered a recent career-threatening emergency. In the past, CERF+ provided assistance only to artists who earned a living from their work for at least three years. “We have expanded our guidelines,” notes program director Craig Nutt, ” because we recognize that disasters can strike artists who have recently started their careers and businesses.” To be eligible an applicant must demonstrate a clear commitment to working full-time as a craft artist along with working to advance their knowledge in their chosen media through education, apprenticeships, or internships. Guidelines and application requirements.

Participate in the Health Care Debate
The Actors Fund just launched Artists United for Health Care, a national artists’ health care reform website, in partnership with the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI) and Leveraging Investments in Creativity (LINC). At Artists United for Health Care self-employed artists and individuals interested in the national debate around health care can:

• Link to current news about the rapidly developing health care reform debate.
• Identify existing local and national grass-roots organizations working for change.
• Send letters to Congress and Senate representatives, and to editors of the press.
• Find contacts for organizing and attending events and seminars.

Key Results Now Available on Artist Trust Recession Survey
Earlier this year Seattle based Artist Trust [http://www.artisttrust.org] surveyed hundreds of artists in Washington State about the effects of the recession on their lives and careers. The Artists and the Economy Survey report covers some of the broader trends reflected in the results of the survey as well as selected graphs and quotes.

Take a Quick Survey — Artists and the Recession
Join with thousands of other artists that have taken 15 minutes to share their experiences with the recession. The results of the survey, being conducted by Leveraging Investment in Creativity (LINC), will help achieve the changes in policy, funding, and information dissemination necessary to improve the working lives of artists nationwide. Artists can remain anonymous if they choose and can sign up to receive the report summarizing the survey results. LINC Survey

Community Service Opportunities for Artists
Americans for the Arts has just launched a new web portal dedicated to promoting community service opportunities for artists, arts groups, and arts volunteers nationwide. The United We Serve website is a place for volunteers in the arts to share stories and upload photos and videos related to their volunteer experiences. Inspired by President Obama, Americans for the Arts is leading the nation’s arts sector to be an active participant in this national service initiative, and showcase the arts and humanities service activities happening across the country as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11, 2009 and throughout the year. Visit the website to showcase your personal or professional volunteer stories, videos, and pictures, which will be compiled and shared with the White House, Congress, and the media.

Fundraising News

September Starts A Season for CERF+!
September marks the beginning of A Season for CERF+ and so far, forty-eight craft related businesses have signed up to participate in this fundraiser to support CERF+’s programs and services. Now in its thirteenth year, A Season for CERF+ unites galleries, retailers and artists, nationwide, in a venture as unique as the individuals and businesses involved. Retailers involved decide when (anytime between September and the end of the year) and what they are going to do. Some organize silent auctions or raffles while others sponsor parties, workshops, and dearly loved seconds-sales. Still others decide to simply make a cash donation of at least $100.

Visit the CERF+ website for current listings of participating businesses or visit our Google map to find a gallery or event near you. Wondering about joining up? No, it’s not too late. Just contact the CERF+ office and we’ll help you get going and welcome you to an ever growing group of individuals and retailers wanting to make a difference for craft artists in need.

“Sweeps for CERF+” Gives New Meaning to Metal Scraps
When metalsmiths clean up their shops, the dustpan gathers value. Now, those “sweeps” can help make a difference in the lives of craft artists in distress.

Rio Grande, a national jewelry supplier, has created “Sweeps for CERF+,” a program through which it will accept sweeps from jewelers by mail, refine the tiny bits of metal, and donate the full value of the recovered metal directly to CERF+. Just collect your sweeps (and nothing else) in a plastic bag, seal the bag and place it into a box. Send your package to: Rio Grande, 7500 Bluewater Road, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121, Attn: Sweeps for CERF+

“Handbuilt” Event Will Benefit CERF+
“Handbuilt” a conference dedicated to handbuilding with clay, will benefit CERF+ in Philadelphia, September 17-19. This “down-to-earth” event, organized by clay artist Sandi Pierantozzi, will feature demonstrations, inspiration, and conversation. Demonstrators Hayne Bayless, Lisa Naples, Sandi Pierantozzi , and Holly Walker will be joined by special guest speaker William Daley. The event will also feature an invitational show of nationally known handbuilders. To learn more or to register, visit the event website or contact Sandi Pierantozzi.

Book Release Party to Benefit CERF+
Studio jeweler and author Linda Kaye-Moses and Ferrin Gallery announce a Book Release Party and benefit for CERF+ on September 20th from 2:00pm to 5:00pm at Ferrin Gallery, 437 North Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Kaye-Moses’ book Pure Silver Metal Clay Beads is a workshop-style book, which contains fifteen original projects for making fine or pure silver beads from metal clay, and presents a wealth of information on the use of metal clay.

The event at Ferrin Gallery will also feature a sale of the beads described in each of the projects, strung with precious stone beads, and fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to CERF+. For more information about the event or questions about the book and the necklaces contact the author at: evansol@berkshire.net.

Emergency Preparedness Tip of the Month

Now that hurricane season is clearly here, it’s never too late to protect yourself and your art business from loss due to a hurricane. Do something this week that will get you closer to being adequately
prepared. Here are some ideas to inspire you!

-Make a Disaster Supply Kit
There are plenty of resources on the web to help you put together a kit:

Red Cross
FEMA
Ready.gov

-Information Backup
Your art career probably depends on a greater variety and quantity of information than you realize. Organize, duplicate and store it for reliable retrieval in case the primary source is destroyed. Focusing on computer backups, vital business records, and photo/video records
of the studio and artwork will get you well on your way!

-Tools of the Trade
Much can be done in the days before a hurricane strikes to protect life and property, but what can you do now so that, for instance, your tools and equipment are likely to be usable once the hurricane has passed and your local community is back to business? Are you prepared to easily take the portable items with you when evacuating? What can you do now so that the non-portable items will be better protected?

-Online Disaster Plans
You may not finish this week, but creating an overall disaster preparedness plan for your business is getting easier with some of the online tools now available from the Institute for Business & Home Safety or FloridaDisaster.org

Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For more
emergency preparedness resources, visit CERF+’s web site: http://craftemergency.org/programs/prevention/

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